Just who are you calling 'strange?'

Was Nixon seeing himself, or just altogether clueless?

Observations

December 14, 2003|By Arthur Hirsch

Tapes of former President Richard M. Nixon's White House conversations released by the National Archives this past week include an intriguing exchange with his chief of staff, H.R. Haldeman, at Camp David in August 1972. In discussing Ronald Reagan, who had just made an unsuccessful run for the Republican presidential nomination, Nixon observes: "[H]e's just an uncomfortable man to be around -- strange."

One cannot help wondering what other great moments in self-awareness might emerge elsewhere in the news:

Michael Jackson: "Yeah, he's a nice guy, but a little weird ..."

Jeffrey Dahmer: "Nice guy, but such peculiar eating habits ..."

Britney Spears: "Oooh, my God, how does she, like, expect anyone to take her seriously?"